Green Bay Packers find potential sleeper in Christian Ringo

The Green Bay Packers added an underrated prospect to their defensive front with their second trip to the podium in round six. Louisiana-Lafayette’s Christian Ringo was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2014, wreaking havoc across the Ragin’ Cajuns defensive line. Ringo ranked seventh nationally with 20.0 tackles for losses and twelfth nationally with 11.5 sacks.

More from Green Bay Packers

An initial reaction to the selection was that Ringo would come in as a long-snapper, but the Green Bay Packers aren’t about to look past that production. Just like the Jake Ryan selection from round four earlier today, Green Bay is taking college production over raw physical talent in the later rounds. Keeping with the Ryan comparison, this is another all-effort producer that will outwork and out-study any player on the football field.

Ringo is an extremely stout player on the defensive line at 6’1″ and 271 pounds, running a 4.97-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. This is the type of body that can be propelled to success at the college level by an incredible motor, but he could be asked to add some weight if he hopes to stick on the line in Green Bay. Watching his tape, it seems that he did play much heavier at points through 2014. If he is able to do so, he could take on a role similar to Mike Daniels, who has become one of the Packers’ most talented defenders despite his short stature.

This selection does not fit the prototype of a longer and more physically gifted athlete along the defensive line that Ted Thompson has begun to gravitate towards, but it’s important to factor in special teams play here. Just like Jake Ryan at inside linebacker and Aaron Ripkowski at fullback, Ringo’s best weapon to stick on this roster will be impact plays in the third phase.

A driving force behind Mike McCarthy’s move away from offensive play calling was the team’s desire to improve special teams. Green Bay was inconsistent and sloppy in the kicking and coverage games, so all drafted and undrafted rookies will have an opportunity to shine in that role.

Ringo is the type of prospect that I love in the late rounds because his tape shows him succeeding. It’s important to take risks on pure physical projections, something the Packers did to a certain extent by selecting UCLA quarterback Bryce Hundley. By selecting a player like Ringo, however, they gain a young defender who is familiar with success and skilled at disrupting backfields.

One unique part of Ringo’s game that you should watch for in the preseason is his interior pass-rush moves. His length does tend to keep him engaged with blockers, but his incredible mid-section girth allows for him to call the shots and dominate unbalanced offensive linemen. Forcing interior pass-rush in a 3-4 scheme pushes the opposing quarterback outside of the pocket, where Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers await.

Expectations should remain very low for Ringo, but along with the opportunity for Beatles jokes, he does bring a very impressive resume from Louisiana-Lafayette. Expect Mike McCarthy to test him on special teams and along the defensive line, but his weight and build by early August should be a telling sign of Green Bay’s plans for him.

Next: Packers steal QB project with Brett Hundley

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Green Bay Packers